By: C. Kent, aka (Superman) I got up this morning and looked out on a beautiful clear sky even if it was just a bit cool. But it didn’t matter because I was feeling good and was looking forward to one of my favorite rides to Murrieta and Los Alamos road. I had a good breakfast and got dressed in my kit and headed for the parking lot to meet the group. Digger was already there having coffee and I told him I thought it was a window day. If we wait by the windows of Burger King we are treated to the reflected heat on cool mornings. It took a long time before Highlander arrived followed by Gambler, Bulldozer and Rocky. I noticed Closer pulling up just before Sasquatch arrived and lastly MacGyver pulled into the parking lot rounding out our group. Because it was 9am we headed out onto Gilmore and started towards Acacia.

It only took us a few moments till we were at the light on Kirby and waiting to make the turn. After turning and heading towards the railroad tracks I started a conversation with Highlander and didn’t notice when half of the group pulled over. Highlander, Sasquatch and I rolled around the corner onto Cypress before we noticed that we had lost some riders. When Rocky and Closer came onto Cypress we learned that one of the big dogs, MacGyver or Gambler had a flat and Bulldozer had stopped with them. We knew they could easily catch us and Highlander suggested we continue on towards Winchester and wait for them at Winchester Farms. I took the lead and kept the pace down so the chase group wouldn’t have to burn all their matches catching us. I pulled at that steady pace all the way down Stetson and then on California to Stowe.

Looking way back in the range finder of my camera you could just see the A group turning onto California as we turned onto Stowe. After the first few yards Sasquatch came flying past me almost talking to no one in particular as he gave a good imitation of Paul Revere proclaiming that the Red Coats were coming. He decided to make a run for it and while I was just as determined not to burn and extra matches I fell in behind him and was pulled on as easily as if I had been behind a UPS truck. He was running in overdrive and we could see Bulldozer closing like a greyhound. All I could hear from Sasquatch was, “we aren’t going to make it because they will catch us.” I pulled around him and burned at least two matches pulling us to the parking lot not fifty yards in front of Bulldozer. We regrouped and recovered before heading back onto Winchester.

Once I got out front once again to keep the pace reasonable. At this point the A group was being reasonable and only Highlander was pushing me with his new hot rod Fuji. As we rounded the corner onto the dump road Highlander and Sasquatch pulled in front and headed for the Wild West bar. Closer and I fell into second place with the rest of the group strung out behind us. I stayed close to the front without expending too much energy and made the turn onto Leon to get down to Simpson.

I still had the lead as we headed west on Simpson and pulled us all the way to Briggs and tried to give up the lead before we got to Lindenburger. While no one else seemed interested in pulling we weren’t moving that fast and we caught the light red at Lindenburger allowing Digger to close on us. We then got a long red as we got to Menifee and shortly after turning south Digger caught us and headed for the front of the pack. We bunched up a bit as we got to Domenigoni and MacGyver pulled up front to begin the ride to Revival hill. I had no choice but to stay with MacGyver as we headed for Holland and the short climb. At the time I was just a tic in front of MacGyver on Strava and I knew he had to power to take my lead away from me.

I stayed on MacGyvers wheel wound tighter than a two dollar pocket watch knowing he was going to attack the climb and not feeling I had enough to respond if he did. Then I made up my mind that no matter what happened I was going to give the climb all I had. As MacGyver started to pick up the pace and pass Sasquatch I not only lit a match but I set the book on fire. I took off and managed to get a PR on the hill because I could feel MacGyver breathing down my neck. Only he wasn’t breathing down my neck and the race was only in my mind because he let me go. Still I moved up on the segment and headed for Scott with the group to wait for the stragglers at the corner. We decided that we would split into two groups as we made our way on Leon to Briggs and finally onto Los Alamos. I watched as the lead group pulled away leaving Highlander, Closer, Digger and I followed all the way to Max Gillis. I led us onto Los Alamos and made a run out of heading west towards Whitewood where the B group would regroup. I finally got away from Highlander and topped out on Los Alamos and headed down towards Whitewood. I picked up Rocky at the stop sign where the road splits and he followed me to Whitewood and we waited for the rest of the group. Sasquatch, Highlander, Closer, Digger, Rocky and I made our way to the Hospital and headed back down to Domenigoni to head for home.

Once we were headed back east we stayed in a pace line to the saddle and regrouped at the white Bike. We then cruised to Winchester and Highlander took us towards Warren. He decided to fall back with Digger and Rocky and I stayed with Sasquatch and Closer. We were going to wait for the trailing riders at Warren but just as we pulled over we noticed Sasquatch had a broken spoke. We removed the offending spoke. Opened the brakes and started after the others but only made it a few feet before Closer had a flat. Once we were back on the road I stayed with Closer and Sasquatch till we got to Stetson where we parted as Closer promised to get Sasquatch a ride home. I headed back to parking lot but everyone had left so I headed for home and a well deserved rest.